The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood, Child Care Compliance and Regulation sections provide regulatory oversight and support to approximately 2,700 child care providers across Missouri. Our mission is to assure the health, safety, growth, and development of Missouri’s children through a regulatory process to prevent injury, risk, or harm to dependent children in out-of-home child care settings.

Interested in Starting a Child Care Program?

In Missouri, child care is defined as the care of a child under the age of 17, away from his or her home for any part of the 24-hour day for compensation or otherwise, as a voluntary supplement to parental responsibility for the child's protection, development, and supervision. Any person providing care to more than six children, or more than three children under age 2, must be licensed or qualify for an exemption in order to operate. To learn more about the types of licenses and license-exempt approvals available, click the button below.